If you want to frame the face, a perfectly groomed and exquisitely arched eyebrow is essential. In fact, for any woman older than 50, a fuller and perfectly manicured eyebrow takes years off the face. If you over-tweezed or over-plucked your eyebrows in your youth, the best eyebrow liner will help to fill in sparse brows and add a professional polish to your everyday eye makeup.

Eyebrow pencils are commonly used to fill in and define brows because, in comparison to eyebrow powder and eyebrow crème, they are the easiest to control and apply to the brow. An eyebrow pencil has a waxier and thicker consistency than other eye makeup pencils, which helps it to adhere to the brows and last longer. The best eyebrow pencil for the mature woman glides softly across the eyebrow hairs and deposits color easily without tugging or pulling the skin.

If you have sensitive skin, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends you use highly pigmented and wax-based eyebrow pencils instead of liquid eyeliners to fill in your brows. The latex found in liquid eyeliners could cause allergies by irritating latex-sensitive skin types. Unlike some liquid makeup eyebrow products, pencil liners are also water-soluble, so they are easier to remove from the skin.

To perk up aging eyes without going under the knife, paint on the pretty with an eyebrow pencil. Eyebrow pencils come in two formulations -- wood and mechanical. You control the point of the wood pencil by sharpening the tip with a makeup pencil sharpener. To apply the product smoothly and expertly, sharpen the eyebrow pencil before each use. On the other hand, a mechanical pencil does not need sharpening. You release the makeup by twisting the base of the pencil to extend the product up and out. If you have oily skin, choose a waterproof eyebrow liner to achieve a long-wearing finish that doesn't flake or smear.

As you mature, your natural eyebrow hair color fades and brows get sparser. To pencil in the perfect color for your older than-50 brows, pick an eyebrow pencil that is one or two shades lighter than your current hair color. If your brows are gray or silver, choose a charcoal or soft taupe eyebrow pencil; brunettes look best in a dark-brown eye pencil; blondes shine in taupe-colored or hazel-hued pencils, while redheads look their prettiest in copper or sable pencils that are one to two shades lighter that their natural brows.

When applying color to your brows, the goal is to enhance the natural shape of your hairs. Strong and penciled-in eyebrows also draw attention up from under-eye bags and away from wrinkly eyelids. After tweezing and combing brows, apply the pencil to the brow hair using short strokes. Angle the mechanical or wood pencil in the same direction as your hair’s growth. Blend the pencil into your brows using a stiff, angled eyebrow brush. For longer wear and complete coverage, apply a clear brow gel to set the hairs.